Coastal sagewort
Artemisia pycnocephala
Last reviewed: September 2026

Toxicity unknown
Coastal sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
CA, OR
Pollinators
small native bees, flies
Before you buy
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A low, mounding subshrub with finely dissected, silvery-white foliage and small clusters of inconspicuous yellow-green flower heads on upright stems in late summer. Spreads by rhizomes to form dense colonies on stabilized dunes.
Wildlife value
The aromatic foliage is browsed by few animals, but the flowers provide late-season nectar for small native bees and flies, and the dense mounds offer shelter for ground-dwelling insects.
Common questions
- How much sun does Coastal sagewort need?
- Coastal sagewort grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Coastal sagewort bloom?
- Coastal sagewort blooms in June, July, August, and September.
- Where is Coastal sagewort native?
- Coastal sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala) is native to CA, OR, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Coastal sagewort attract?
- Coastal sagewort draws small native bees and flies.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Coastal sagewort? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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